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# 22 Johnny Paycheck

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JOHNNY PAYCHECK

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 I generally think rather lowly of folks with violent tendancies and criminal nature. But when I stand back and look at the environment Johnny lived I can see were his reputation and history came from. Johnny was the mightest honky tonkers of the late 70s and early 80s when honky tonks started going "urban". He was virtually a one hit wonder with "Take This Job and Shove It" in 1977. The song was a intant hit that stayed on the top of the charts for several weeks. Johny was charged and convicted of rape and some other violent type crimes around 1979. He did a few years in prison before the rape conviction was overturned on appeal. In the early 80s Johnny cut another record that conatained many #1s on one album such as "Drinking and driving" , "Dont Take Her, Shes all Ive Got", "Mr. Lovemaker", and "Someone to Give My Love to". In 1985 Johnny shot a man at during a bar room brawl were he was performing. After serving a few years on the conviction for that charge Johnny was released and reportedly found Jesus Christ and Christianity. Johnny layed low the next few years performing mostly locally in Branson MO. In 1989 Johnny was jailed again for an old charge. He served two more years in jail. Johnny was released in 1999 and died in 2003 after battling diabetes and emphysema. Of course Paychecks' signature song is "Take this Job and Shove It" which related so much to blue collar workers of everyday America. But  because of its ballad overtones combined with Paychecks raspy voice  my favorite song from Paycheck is "Someone To Give My Love To".  I might add that Johnny wasnt a bad actor eithe, unlike allot of his colleagues.

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